THE PRICE OF A LORD MAYOR'S GOWN.
Every "family man" will appreciate the annoyance of being called on frequently for "a new gown;" but the most expensive milliner's bill would be a mere song—to a moderate tune—compared with the cost of a "new gown" for the Lord Mayor of London. In the evidence before the City Corporation Commission we find it stated by Mr. Acland, that
"There is an amount of seven guineas paid for a violet gown for the Lord Mayor. In another instance there is an item of £17 for the Lord Mayor's silk violet gown. On the occasion of the Duke of Wellington's funeral, there is a sum of £72 for the Lord Mayor's silk gown."
We cannot pretend to understand either the necessity for such an extensive stock of gowns as the Lord Mayor seems to possess, or for such a frightful fluctuation in the price of one and the same article. We know of no system of arithmetic or rule of three by which we are to get a solution of the question: "If a Lord Mayor's gown cost £7 at one time, and £17 at another time, why is it to cost £72 at a subsequent period?" We can only say that as £7 is not to £17, so cannot be £72 by any rule or principle whatever.